In honor of the death of actress Barbara Billingsly, the ultimate TV mom (June Cleaver of the iconic 1960s family sitcom, "Leave it To Beaver"), I've decided to shout out some of my favorite local sports moms.

Momma Cherocchi – A wonderful and intelligent woman who practically runs all the day-to-day affairs of legendary Birmingham Brother Rice head football coach Al Fracassa. Momma Cherocchi has two great sons, in former all-state Warrior linebackers Zach (Hillsdale) and Justin (CMU) and is a pure pleasure to deal with and be around. I am a HUGE fan of the Cherocchi Clan!

Momma Gleaves – I first met Momma Gleaves – mother to none other than "The Sack Man" himself, Marcus Gleaves of OL St. Mary's – at the concession stand last year at one of the Eaglets games and she struck me as the quintessential ultra-supportive football mom. She could be the loudest person in the stands cheering on her boy (a "Grade A" class act in his own right) and she has every reason to because he plays like a crazed beast for Coach Porritt on the Eaglets' defensive line

Momma Brundidge – A carbon-copy of Momma Gleaves, accept instead of cheering on "Sack Man" on the prep gridiron, she's cheering on Southfield's Carlton "Captain Amazing" Brundidge on the high school hardwood. Momma Brundidge is going to have a lot of cheer about this year because Burney thinks the Blue Jays will be raising a state title banner by season's end.

Momma Robb – Since Momma Robb is a nurse, it's no surprise she's sweet as pie and obviously one of the most loving and caring moms around, looking after daughters Allison (starting guard on the 2009 CHSL champ Waterford Our Lady of The Lakes girls hoop squad and now a sophomore at Saginaw Valley State) and Anna (current freshman JV guard for the Lakers). I love my own mom, but since I'm Jewish, I think I deserve a Catholic Mom as well. I'm declaring Momma Robb my official "CHSL mom"!

Momma Williams – Being that she is the mother of Madison "The Big Classy" Williams (Birmingham DCD/MSU), it's only natural that Momma Williams is CLASSY with a capital "C"! She also a big reason why "The Big Classy" was a three-time all-state girls hoop selection and got honored as a McDonald's All-American last winter, being a former all-state cager herself back in the day at Birmingham Seaholm and then at the D1 level in college at University of Texas-San Antonio.

Momma Zott – I've actually never met Momma Zott– mother to current Lake Orion stud wide receiver Zach Zott and former Dragons all-state girls hoopster Courtney Zott (Lake Orion 2009 – at MSU but not playing ball), however, she makes this list for two main reasons: 1. She's raised two unbelievably talented and high-quality kids in Zach and Courtney, possibly the most athletically prolific brother-sister combo to come out of the county in the last five years at least. 2. Considering the fact that in my other life as a true-crime author/investigative journalist, Momma Zott slides into the fold simply because she is the niece of Burney's all-time favorite real life gangster, Ronald "Hollywood Ronnie" Morelli   

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